Emily Donelson, First Lady
Emily Donelson (June 1, 1807 - December 19, 1836) was the niece of President Andrew Jackson. She served as White House hostess and First Lady of the United States. Unlike many girls of her day, she was afforded a formal education. She studied at Nashville Female Academy in Nashville and was considered an accomplished student. It has been speculated that even before Rachel Donelson Jackson's death in 1828, Jackson had planned for Emily to accompany them to Washington to assist Rachel in the duties of White House hostess. The death of his wife caused these plans to be abandoned and Jackson asked Emily to take over all the responsibilities of the White House hostess. She arrived in Washington at the age of 21. Her husband, A. J. Donelson, served as President Jackson's private secretary. Her health began to deteriorate in 1836. She went to recuperate on her plantation, but died that December at the age of 29, possibly of her tuberculosis, making her the shortest-lived First Lady in American history. Painting attributed to Ralph Earl.
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